e30 m42 motor...

Daxsandman · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 10:49 AM

I have a 1991 318is and i was wondering if there is any good mods for this motor. right now i have the direct bolt on stuff, chip,exhaust,intake, headers are coming in a couple of days, bavauto plasma ignition/spark wires. I was thinking bmp design cams and 13:1 pistons but i need an exact price and what else i need to have them put in. This motor was recently rebuilt and only has 10k miles on it. It will be a daily driver so the stuff needs to be street legal but race reacy for autox or drift.

Stu Mc · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daxsandman

I was thinking bmp design cams and 13:1 pistons..... It will be a daily driver so the stuff needs to be street legal but race reacy for autox or drift.

haha

Rob ITR1035 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 02:02 PM

I think you should do some research and learn a lot more than you know. then you'd realize that what you're proposing is borderline ridiculous

Daxsandman · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 03:08 PM

I've done my research well into 2 years on the entire car and all I've done is mostly suspension work. I have a full Evo M3 suspension and all that is left is the engine. Bmp design has some parts for my car but im not sure if any of those engine mods are worth my money. My mechanic custom fabricates e30s into daily driven race cars, and he says that there are possibilities to tune the m42 motor, he has done several 318is' and all of them have yielded close to 180hp. With no supercharger/turbo but as i said my car is daily driven so it still needs to be street legal. If you guys still think this is stupid should I just go with a e36 318is or 325 motor and supercharge it?

Rob ITR1035 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 03:28 PM

if you do indeed get close to 180hp, it will be nowhere near streetable. that's short-life race motor territory as far as the M42 is concerned. I'm suprised your mechanic didn't suggest an m50, which is a much much better option if you need that kind of power

Daxsandman · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 04:22 PM

Hey what about a 2.8L z3 motor? If I sell my 18in rims and stock is rear spoiler i might have the funds to get one. After that I can piece out my old engine. Or is the m50 a better buy?

533i · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 06:49 PM

Quit being a little girl and just drop an S70/2 in there

GodspeedM3 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 07:01 PM

13:1 compression on an m42 would be impressive. It should make head removal much easier. Actually, it should make head removal fully automated.

Bitchin'e30 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 07:03 PM

Where do these tools come from? Why did their parents breed?

ultima_chi · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodspeedM3

13:1 compression on an m42 would be impressive. It should make head removal much easier. Actually, it should make head removal fully automated.

DTME30ic · #11 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 08:12 PM

LOL you'll need av gas to run with 13:1 compression. . .

Save up and get a superchager or change to an M50. .

Alfy · #12 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 12:43 PM

Look for the engine of a 320is.Thats a 2ltr engine 4cyl whit 192 horspower.It is also
m-power.It was made for the italian and portugese market.It has almost the same performance as the 2.3ltr m3 E30.

Vince Ochs · #13 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 07:34 PM

Hear, hear. Just import a 320is next year when they become street-legal over here.

uberpanzer · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-2004, 02:41 AM

What shop are you going to? Street legal race cars in CA running a M42 with 180hp? 13:1 compression on our crappy 91 octane gas AND getting past CARB for a smog/registration? I'm not sure if your mechanic is on the level. What shop is it? That helps a lot.

The M42 really needs to be converted to solid lifter if it is going to make REAL power and use a set of cams well. That is more money than is REALLY worth spending on the M42 motor. You can make it all high-strung and get some decent power out of it, but it won't be good for a daily car in SD (highways).

The M52 Z3 motor you speak of would be good. You can keep the weight down in the nose to keep it CLOSE to the handling of the M42, but it still won't be the same. Most people say the extra power is worth the slight decrease in handling, but that is more up to the individual driver. But unless you are able to get a few grand to your 18in wheels (I doubt it since they are used), the M52 from the Z3 will be out of your budget. Most people know what those motors are used for now and keep the prices high. They are usually at least double to triple the price of a regualr M50 or M52. But if you are looking to keep the handling you've got AND have some nice power in a CARB compliant package, that is the way to go (with a set of cams in it).

And since your car is a '91 you will be VERY hard pressed to try and get an e30 M3 motor into it. CARB regulations prohibit the swap of a motor OLDER than the chassis into the car. You would have to find a '91 M3 to get the motor from. Not an easy task (but do-able). This would be the 320is that was mentioned above. The Italian 320is was powered by a S14B20, basically a smaller displacement M3 motor, made for racing in Italian Touring Car during the early '90s. It made almost as much power as our 2.3L S14, bascially tweaked a bit in timing and electronics. But that would be WAAAAY more pricey than the Z3's M52, and more high-strung as well. Not as much torque either, so drifting would be a no-no.